Five must be the magic number

Meeting people on the road is one of the cool things that happens, it can change the day, dissolve any possible plans and lead you off on paths that you would never normally take.

First we met Evan, a Canadian doing the trip on his own. He spotted the bikes, we started talking and decided to ride to Tikal the next morning together.Tikal is another "must do" backpacker pyramid touristy site.

25th April Nowra - Sale

Nowra to Sale 678 km
Km to date: 840
Av Km/day: 420Nowra to Sale 678 km
Km to date: 840
Av km/day: 420

After the rain yesterday it was a beautiful clear day on the Princess Highway heading south.

Henk forgot to close his tank bag and saw his prized $2 shop reading glasses bounce out and land on the road. By the time he got back to them a road train had ground them to dust.

(16) Brasil: The Long Float cont´d

The Amazon grew darker, trading its khaki drags for something of a more chocolate tone.The Amazon grew darker, trading its khaki drags for something of a more chocolate tone.It was still placid...just darker; forever splitting into channels, divisions, rivulets, courses and streams, forming lakes, ponds, islands and peninsulas as it went. Then co-mingling to become a vast, broad expanse of water that most images conjure up.

to Coinbatur

We gassed up on the outskirts of town and headed out of Mudumalai towards the mountains to the East, into the rising sun. After a quick photo session under the Welcome to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve sign, we started along the part paved, part crater sized-potholed road and began to climb. Juz poined to the sign the read hairpin Curve 1 of 34.

Its a Bend and its Big

Big Bend NP

At least we were heading south, even if it was away from the border. Although, while there we camped by the Rio Grande, which is the border.

USA to the right, Mexico to the left.

Back in 2002, the local “soft” borders were closed, Mexicans still try and cross to sell souvenirs, if caught they risk a large fine.

May 15 Cape Crawford NT - Mt Isa Qld

Cape Crawford - Mt Isa 825 km
Total 12231 km
Average 556 km

(4) Chile: El Norte Grande

Antofagasta and San Pedro de AtacamaBaquedano! What a romantic name for a town that time forgot. Perched in the middle of the Atacama Desert only a short distance from Antofagasta it exists in a peaceful slumber; the desert winds whistling among its ancient buildings. A few hardy folk continue to eke out a living in this godforsaken place.Most people would pass through this almost inconspicuous town and hardly give it a second thought or bother to lift their foot off of the accelerator if it were not for the carabineros. However, we had a different mission.

Map

I have finally managed to mark out the route we travelled on. Blue path shows the beginning of our journey north to Goa before we turn around and come back south.

Large map

Go to Scribble Maps to see a larger, interactive map

Plans are made so they can change

Not a major change, (but an expensive one) decided that my XJR was not the right bike for the trip. uses lots of fuel, tyres expensive and if I "ding" a wheel (alloy) I'm stuffed. Getting a replacement will be expensive, at least with spoked wheels I should be able to get local repairs done.

OUR NEW TRANSPORT

Surely not tired of motorbike riding... just trying some other means of transport!Surely not tired of motorbike riding... just trying some other means of transport!

FIRST TRIP WITH THE BEAST

(4) Brasil: The Mountains cont´d

Big Al continued to work throughout his lifetime.Big Al continued to work throughout his lifetime.He decorated Churches and built edifices. Everywhere around Ouro Preto and in the neighbouring towns and villages his work can be found. Perhaps his most famous work is the Twelve Prophets which are located in front of the Church in Conganhas.

The West Coast Vagabond Experience

Vagabonding is the lifestyle I chose. I was tired of the daily grind, making money to accumulate goods and keep up with the neighbors. Living life without the stress of possessions is the basis of this lifestyle. Traveling is a style of living, not a goal for a vagabond. Vagabonds travel to see new things and meet new people. They make memories by doing and seeing.